Île

Breathe

 "Hello to you too" There's a crack, something broke and it sounded like bones. Not mine but it's, it's bones. That's if it had bones. "I think I have something that belongs to you" the fracturing sounds chuckle at my silence, the screech of the floor screaming along with it.

There's a squeak as it slides down to the floor to sit beside me, I curl into a tighter ball in hopes of stopping my earthquake like trembling. I hear the clanking of something.

"Alex? What a lovely name" It's distorted voice whispers in my ear. Cold silence. Jhope greets us with a verse that makes my stomach sink.

"추억들이 마른 꽃잎처럼 ~산산이 부서져가 ~내 손 끝에서 내 발 밑에서 ~달려가는 네 등 뒤로 ~마치 나비를 쫓듯 꿈 속을 헤매듯"

(Memories crumble like dried flower petals ~At the tip of my fingers, under my feet ~Right behind your back ~I'm chasing butterflies, so lost in dreams )

It adjusts itself, no longer in my ear. It's stare is still heavy on me, waiting, watching, I don't need my eyes to know that.

"This is my favourite part" A snap, a crackle and it begins "~너의 흔적을 따라가 ~길을 알려줘 날 좀 멈춰줘 ~[정/지] 날 숨쉬게 해줘"

(~I follow your traces ~Show me the way, please stop me ~Let me breathe, Let me breathe)

It's singing sends shivers down my spine. I turn my head toward the creature like a stuttering clock. I made a mistake..... It's deformed face now ingrained in my memory. It's an obsidian black, tar like creature, it's eyes are a murky gray and it's mouth barely visible. I don't breathe in fear it might attack me. I watch it tilt its head with a snap, my entire body reacts with disgust.

As if it weighed nothing more then a feather. It moves it's arm in a swift motion, like magician almost. A card appears between its only 2 knife-like fingers. It examines the card as I feel the world fade. It seems to notice my attempt at giving myself an early death. "You humans astonish me" The creature's deep, distorted voice sounds disappointed. Confused, I forget my fear and consume oxygen once more. The wall screams in pain again as it adjusts itself.

"The card says you are afraid, why is that?" It's question reminds me of Baymax from Big Hero 6 but this creature is 100000x more horrific. I try to wrap my head around why it's concerned.

"I do not mind if you do not talk but do not suffocate yourself." It's voice sounds like it just ate sand, it was so grainy and raspy. The fact it demanded me to keep breathing makes my anxiety act like it's on a sugar high. I can feel another panic attack rising from the depths of my stomach. I try to open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out. It's dry, my mouth is so dry coughing hurts. The 'tar' creature is playing with the card, it balances on the tip of it's sharp fingers then flicks between left and right. I squeeze my eyes shut in hopes that this is all a dream, that this creature doesn't exist. Silent sobs rack my body. I sniff loudly and open my eyes to see-